NIAGARA FALLS AND VICINITY 7 1 



a guide to the young Niagara. The southward continuation of 

 this channel beyond the Devil's hole, is found in the valley of 

 Bloody run, a shallow but distinct depression now followed in part 

 by the Lewiston branch of the New York Central railroad and 

 evidently of preglacial origin, as its floor is covered with till. 



Next above this lowest section of the gorge is one, in general 

 much broader, and extending in a southwest direction from the 

 Devil's hole to the whirlpool, a distance of a little less than two 

 miles. This section is contracted near its middle by the projection 

 from the Canadian bank, known as Fosters flats, or Niagara glen. 



The river is here scarcely 300 feet wide, though the tops of the 

 banks are in places over 1700 feet apart. Above Fosters flats and 

 almost as far as the whirlpool, the river is very calm, and apparently 

 deep, while at the point of contraction at the southern end of Fos- 

 ters flats, the waters suddenly become tumultuous and rush 

 through the narrow channel with great velocity. This sudden 

 change -has been attributed to a sudden decrease in depth of the 

 river at this point, but it is evident that, even if the channel had the 

 same depth as above, the sudden contraction would produce a 

 similar effect, for the waters, spread out over a broad and deep 

 channel, on being suddenly forced to pass through a narrow one, 

 would from mere crowding into a smaller space assume a violent 



aspect. 



Niagara glen, or Foster s flats 



plate 8 

 This is one of the most interesting places along the whole 

 Niagara river, though generally little visited by tourists. From the 

 Canadian side a platform of limestone projects, whose surface is a 

 little below that of the general level of the upland plain, from which 

 it is separated by a steep bluff. The platform is known as Winter- 

 green flat, and, though sparingly wooded, is very deficient in soil. 

 The bluff which bounds it on the west is a part of the old river 

 bank. On the remaining sides this platform is limited by abruptly 

 descending cliffs, at the base of which are extensive talus 

 slopes descending to a lowland of considerable extent. This low- 

 land, which is known as Fosters flats, has its surface well strewn 



